Is it only supposed to drive one of the back wheels?

[GreenMantis]

I just got my first trike, and want to motorize it. But the first thing I noticed is that only one wheel is driven by the cranks, is it supposed to be like that?

 

[Frankenstein]

I just got my first trike, and want to motorize it. But the first thing I noticed is that only one wheel is driven by the cranks, is it supposed to be like that?

That's so they don't have to put a more expensive differential in the rear wheels between axles. If it were solid across turns would be destructive to the wheels/axle as the outside wheel would be spinning faster than the one inside the turn. If one wheel is free then it solves several problems. One idea is powering the wheel without the crank attached, the free one, with the motor, then the pedal wheel can be left untouched and completely functional if needed.

 

[Lukesky36]

could buy a old lawn mower with a differential in it and build some type of bracket for it hydrostatic or geared and some keyed skinny wheels would work out

 

[try 1897]

Ask Curtis about differential axels. He knows about them with respect to trike bicycles.

 

[chargehard]

hi who is curtis? i need to talk to him